HOUSTON -- It's closing in on 48 hours before the trade deadline (1 p.m. PDT Thursday), and just where do the A's stand?

For one thing, they're in a position where they don't need to make a trade, although they continue to explore second base options. And while they don't need an outfielder long term, they could use one until they know that Craig Gentry (disabled list, broken right hand) and Coco Crisp (neck) are healthy.

With the July 4 trade for starters Jeff Samardzija (pitching Tuesday night in Houston) and Jason Hammel (pitching the series finale Wednesday), the A's addressed their most pressing need going forward. On the other hand, you can never have too much pitching, so there's that.

But the trade deadline is not to be trifled with, so let's have a look as A's possibilities:

Second base: Probably the best option for the A's is the Rays' Ben Zobrist (.269, 8 homers, 29 RBIs). He was an All-Star last year, and at 33 is something like perfect for the we're-all-about-versatility A's because he can play second, third and the outfield, although he hasn't been in center field since last year. He's under club control through 2015, which would fit nicely into the Oakland narrative, too.

The Indians' Asdrubal Cabrera (.249, 9 homers, 40 RBIs) has been strictly a shortstop since 2010, but he came up as a second baseman/shortstop and if the A's were convinced he could give them the defense they need, he could be a nice bit of 28-year-old adrenalin for the A's lineup.

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Then there's Aaron Hill. The Diamondbacks' second baseman is, at 32, having the worst year of his career (.255, 8 homers, 49 RBIs), but it was just last year that he hit .291 and two years back he hit .302 with 26 homers, and a change of scene could do the right-handed hitter well. He's owed a lot of money -- $24 million over the next two seasons -- and the A's wouldn't take that on without getting a bucket of money back from Arizona.

Talk about adding Nick Franklin from the Mariners has happened, but it's tough seeing Franklin a fix for this year. He's never played a full season in the big leagues and has spent most of this year in the minors after the addition of Robinson Cano. His defense is unproven, but he's been a consistent .300 hitter the last two years at Triple-A Tacoma, even if he hit just .128 in 17 games for Seattle this year.

Pitching: As we said above, the A's don't really need another starting pitcher, but they've called the Red Sox in the last few days with left-hander Jon Lester (10-7, 2.42) available from last-place Boston.

And the Marlins have contacted the A's about possibility of the left-handed Milone, currently pitching at Triple-A Sacramento, heading to Miami.

Sean McAdam of CSN-New England first reported the A's interest in Lester, although Oakland is far from being at the top of the heap. Toronto, St. Louis, Seattle, Baltimore and the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the A's join the Brewers and the Braves in being interested enough to see if there is room at the table.

The Red Sox are willing to move Lester, and Lester is willing to be moved, but any decision is likely to come down to the final hours leading up to the deadline. At a minimum, the A's would have to send Milone to the Red Sox, but it's not clear the A's have enough in the minor leagues system to complete a deal for the veteran, who would be just a two-month addition.

Lester isn't the only starter the A's have asked about. They tried to get David Price from the Rays a month ago, but they moved to Samardzija and Hammel when the Rays said they weren't ready to make a move. Since then, it seems that Price will stay put with the Rays playing better, but you never know.

Center field: Marcell Ozuna (.272, 16 homers, 57 RBIs) is someone who probably shouldn't be mentioned, because why would the Marlins trade a 24-year-old who might be an impact player? Well, the Marlins have approached the A's about starting pitcher Tommy Milone, and if the A's are going to entertain thoughts of trading Milone, who was 6-0 over an 11-game stretch before getting bumped to the minor leagues by the arrival of Hammel, Oakland may as well ask for someone it could really use over the long term knowing that the Marlins seem to have available center field options in their minor league system.

The A's couldn't hold on to left-handed hitting center fielder Sam Fuld because there was no room on the roster after early April, but Fuld, now with the Twins, would seem to be just what the A's need — a defensive whiz with the ability to play off the bench. He's done a decent job (.272, 1 homer, 17 RBIs in 51 games) for Minnesota, but he's probably available.